ALBANY - A renewed push is underway, to include e-cigarettes in New York's Clean Indoor Air Law. The law bans smoking in most workplaces, including bars, restaurants and bowling alleys. As e-cigarettes become more popular, some lawmakers and health organizations say the law needs to cover that as well.
"Our fear is that that act of re-normalizing smoking will be detrimental to public health and will really encourage more youth to copycat that," said Bill Sherman, Vice President of Government Relations for the Eastern Division of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Sherman said not enough is known about e-cigarettes. His organization is part of a coalition of health organizations that will be speaking with lawmakers in the coming weeks about that.
"These are scientists, public health experts, all who agree that the second hand exposure to the aerosol emitted from the electronic cigarettes is potentially harmful," said Sherman.
The President of The American Vaping Association, Gregory Conley sent CBS6 News an emailed statement saying, "This is the nanny state on steroids. There is no evidence that the vapor emitted from these smoke-free and tobacco-free devices poses a threat to bystanders. Those who continue to lie and mislead the public about these innovative technology products will not be looked at kindly in history."
Non " smokers and non-vapers that CBS6 News spoke with said they like this possible change.
"I respect their privacy but I don't want them to smoke in front of me or whatever you know?" said Ellio LeMaro, from Albany.
Martin Matthews is the manager at 51 Vape. He said he already doesn't vape in public places and thinks on that level the proposed legislation is fair.
"Honestly anyplace where you are in the public domain, you have to be respectful of people around you," said Matthews. "Bringing it outside isn't that hard."
But he said he doesn't agree with the health concerns, or fear of increased smoking, that are being discussed.
"Almost everything that's in an e-cigarette is FDA approved, we consume it every day," he said.
Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal and Senator Kemp Hannon have been pushing for this, for some time. The proposed legislation has moved out of committee and the Governor voiced support for this idea earlier this year.
